Merry Christmas

Snowflakes drift gently outside and I wear a warm sweater and corduroys as I listen to Christmas music. How different from Christmas in Nigeria, and how very different from that first Christmas in Bethlehem.

The weather would have been cold and dry, with a dusty wind blowing. Instead of balsam fir and cinnamon, the holy family would have had the smell of hay and manure and animals in their nostrils. Instead of carols and bells, the bleating of goats, the cries of labor, and the soft squalling of a newborn baby. No home with candles burning and the happy faces of family and friends and the tastes of too many delicious foods; instead the overcrowded houses and barns, smokey with lamps and cooking fires.

In many ways that first Christmas resembles Christmas in Nigeria more than the cozy celebration we have made of it. In many ways, a spare and weary Christmas highlights better that Greatest Gift ever given, the Gift wrapped in swaddling clothes, surrounded by controversy, gazed upon by wondering faces of shepherds and livestock.

God bless you and have a Merry Christmas!

DeVoe update

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

What joy it brings to a father seeing his children walking in truth. Today Sarah headed to school early, which is rather surprising considering that she is really bothered by many of the other students behavior and talk of drugs and immorality. Sarah left before 7am so she could participate in a nationwide program involving students gathering at their flag poles to pray, asking God to work on their campuses among students and staff. We also need to be praying for our Christian students to be unified, for them to stand strong in their faith and for them to have the courage to share Christ.

This past weekend was also filled with joy as it was the opening weekend at the Word of Life Bible Institute. 10 years ago I responded to God's call on my life by moving my family to Schroon Lake and attending the BI. Unsure what He had in store for us we moved forward one step at a time and He showed Himself to be faithful again and again. From selling our house in VT in only 2 weeks, with no real-estate agent to both Meredith and I receiving Bachelors' degrees while remaining dept free. He also raised up the financial and prayer support that allowed us to move to Nigeria as a family in 2006 which enabled us to serve in an incredibly fruitful ministry. To be at WOL for Ryan's opening weekend brought back a flood of memories which stirred my heart and mind with anticipation as to what God has in store for Ryan. Pray for his coming year to have a lifelong impact and for wisdom in deciding what the next step in his life will be after a year at the BI.

We were also blessed this past Saturday evening to be part of a sell-out crowd for a concert by Mark Schultz & Point of Grace hosted at our Church, First Baptist of Johnson City. Sunday followed with an open house and Dedication service of the new building which is now home to a church that is over 100 years old and stands testament to the faithfulness of God. Before we left for Nigeria in 2006, we had been part of a prayer walk that moved about an open field which had been marked out for what we were asking God to bring to a reality. Now to the glory of God an incredible ministry center stands which purposes to provide new ministry opportunities for a group that abounds with people that live their faith, give sacrificially and serve unconditionally. Pray along with us to meet up with the stewardship of such a building and that God will raise up an army of individuals to serve in every aspect of ministry where there is a need so that First Baptist of Johnson City will be all that God expects her to be.

Our furlough is almost half over and we are so thankful for the many individuals that have provided meals, housing and encouragement in many different forms and for the many opportunities we have had to share about what God is doing in Nigeria. God has answered your prayers for our safe travels with over 9000 miles logged since the 8th of July and we would ask you to continue to pray for safety as we travel to the many missions conferences and speaking engagements that we have coming up over the next 3 months. Please continue to pray for the Verkaiks and the ministry staff in Nigeria as the work goes on in our absence only with less hands to accomplish it. We also ask you to pray for an increase in our prayer and financial support base before we return to Nigeria.

To God be the Glory, great things He has done.
Bob & family

Top Ten...

Top ten things I miss about Nigeria:

1. "Sannu! Ina kwana?"


2. Our friends!!


3. The most-always pleasant weather


4. The colorful clothing


5. Dancing in church


6. Reggae music


7. Rice, beans, and red stew


8. Hillcrest School


9. Jerry (a five-year-old who lives in our compound)


10. Mangoes

Top ten things I don't miss:

1. Achabas (motorcycle taxis)


2. Trash strewn everywhere


3. Public urination


4. Diesel fumes


5. Marriage proposals for my daughter


6. Corrupt police and officials


7. White-knuckle driving everywhere


8. Crashed and burned-out cars


9. Razor wire


10. Potholes

Top ten things I am appreciating about the USA:

1. Blueberries, cherries, apples


2. Safe driving


3. Open lawns and gardens, farms and woods


4. Thrift Shops


5. Libraries


6. 24-hour electricity


7. Drinkable water


8. Clean air


9. I am not an object of curiosity everywhere I go


10. Most everyone is actually wealthier than me

Top ten things I wish about the USA:

1. That people were grateful for the enormous blessings they enjoy from God every day


2. That people would spend less time mowing lawns and more with each other


3. That people would dress nicer-- not jeans and t-shirts ad nauseum


4. That people would loosen up and make some noise in church


5. That people would buy less and make more


6. That junk food was not so ubiquitous


7. That SUVs would go away, especially Hummers


8. That they would turn the air conditioning down


9. That people would protect the unborn AND the Alaskan wilderness


10. That Christians would make Christ known so the world will see and turn away from false gods

Finishing Well

In just two weeks we will be headed for the US for 6 months. Already our Nigerian friends are warmly telling us how much they will miss us and how they hope we enjoy our "holiday". I laugh when I tell them we will likely be more busy in America than we are here! But we are enthusiastically looking forward to seeing our family, friends, and the churches who have helped us so greatly.

Please pray for us as we prepare for our furlough schedule. We expect a full roster of speaking and sharing what the Lord has done in the last three years-- How can we tell it all?-- as well as taking classes, working part time, keeping house and traveling extensively. God will give us the strength to do all we need to do.

We are thankful for all He is and all He has done and will continue faithfully to do.